TINT

Just had my front ones done a few hours ago. They just did whatever the max legal in Texas is. Not sure on %. Pretty close and looks good to me.

 

20% front windows matches rears pretty good . 70% on entire windshield and smoked tails.

 

I have a 2017 blue double cab Tacoma (with 3 piece rear slider) which has the factory ~26% smoked glass in the rear windows and factory ~35-45% tint on the front two windows.

I was considering removing the stock front windows tint and then adding 15 or 20 % tint on the front two windows, the rear two windows, and the rear glass (including over the smoked glass) or doing 15 or 20 in the front and 30 or so in the back. I definitely want it to be darker but I'd also like for all 5 windows to match as best as possible from the outside and from the inside.

What would everyone recommend for that? Thanks!

 

50% front and 5% on the back.

 

I'm pretty sure I'll catch flack for the but, but here's mine.

20% everywhere and 8x% on the windshield.

 

Front windows are not factory tinted. If you run a tint meter on the factory fronts you'll get about 78% light transmission, but that's essentially the same for every car with untinted windows. Even if they were, factory tint (like the rear privacy glass) isn't "removable". It's not a film, it's integral to the window.

20-25% front should roughly match the factory rears. There might be a slight deviation depending on the lighting you view it under, but it's generally close enough that no one really can tell. Once you start mixing and matching with extra tint in the rear and so forth, you're going to have to consult a professional and run a meter to get a match, it's too hard to say (at least for me) exactly what combinations will result in what percentage light transmission.

 

I made this image for something else but it shows the 20% all around tint fairly well, I think. There was no tint from the factory on the rear (base model).

 

The dealership had tint installed on the front windows as an option but it's super light. I do want to make it darker all around and I was also hoping to add some UV protection to the rear hence adding tint back there too as opposed to just adding tint to the front to match. I agree finding the right balance though is difficult!

 

OK, gotcha. Yeah, that would be regular tint then, it is removable. FWIW I have found that it's not really worth doing 50% or more light transmission, it's almost like having no tint.

 

I did 20% up front and 35% for back (on top of the factory tint) to achieve 20% all around. The back is slightly darker than the front - not perfect but good enough for me.

 

20% sides
50% windshield
All Llumar ceramic

 

Added 20% tint to the front and 35% tint to the rear over the privacy glass (almost a perfect match, just a hair darker in the back)







Transformation photos

 

Just had my truck tinted with 20% on all 4 doors (SR comes with no tint + I have a topper, so no back window needed). I noticed quite a few dust particles and little bubbles throughout the tint after bringing it home. I've already decided I'm taking it off; the question is whether this is to be expected? Is everyone just living with this minor annoyance, or are some installs completely 'bubbleless'? I love having it tinted, but I absolutely can't stand having little bubbles all over my windows. Just wondering if I should try a new place or give up on tint.

 

Give it 2-3 days without rolling the windows down before you remove it. That's normal. The heat should force them all out. I did mine Saturday and there was a bunch and now there's only a few I think. By tomorrow, I'm hoping they'll all be gone. From what I've read, it's normal

 

Before even getting home from the dealer, I stopped by the tint shop. Told them to match the back. Just threw my tint meter on it and the back is 28% and front is 18%. Looks pretty close though.

Suntek Carbon XP - $120, well worth it.


You can see the % difference more with the lighter background behind it.

 

Great pics in this thread but it really has turned into a "opportunity to show off my truck!" thread (and there's nothing wrong with that). I was going to post mine but it looks like you have plenty of examples of tinted Tacomas.

 

The driver and passenger are 5%, all rear windows are 15%+factory, entire windshield is 45% with a 5% 4" strip....yep it's pretty dark

 

That is limo all the way around it's so nice don't think I'll ever have a vehicle again without limo. Have had it on for a couple months and no attention yet knock on wood.

 

I got 20% in the front and 5% back and rear, it has improved the look of the truck tenfold
Not to mention, no one can see you unless they are looking from 3 ft away

 

35% smoked will match, the product my window tint guy uses is made by Solargard. I personally have limo over all the factory and 20% up front, it's very dark you cannot even see in the back.